Audience members at Monday night's Neil Diamond concert at Ohio State University were apparently so dismayed by the raspy condition of Diamond's voice that they demanded a refund, which it has now been announced they will indeed be receiving. Diamond, who apparently made no comment about his voice on the evening in question, issued a statement the following day saying that he had been diagnosed with acute laryngitis.

Is it just us, or does complaining about raspy singing at a 2008 concert by the 67-year-old Diamond, a gravelly sounding dude even in his salad days, seem somewhat akin to demanding a refund at a Metallica show because they've turned their amps up too loud? Can you imagine how much money Bob Dylan would be giving back if his fans started taking this as a precedent? Ol' Zimmy would be headed for the poorhouse within six months, tops. And aren't Neil Diamond fans supposed to be among the most rabid and ardent followers around, with a devotion akin to aficionados of Jimmy Buffett and, once upon a time, the Grateful Dead? Or at least Barbra Streisand? Jeez, has anybody heard Roger Daltrey sing live lately? Maybe the Who should take out some kind of insurance policy for their upcoming tour...

(Associated Press)